Improved vegetable fibre as a substitute for hair



guitar tans gaunt ffire.

Letters Patent No. 81,702, dated September 1, 1868.

IMPROVED VEGETABLE FIBRE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR HAIR.

flilgt firlgthnlt Itfttttl! to in flgsst itsttcts earn ant melting part at flge same.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it 'linown that I, TERNER'STAUFEN, late of New York, United States of America, but now of No.17 Rue de Hanovre, Paris, in the Empire of France, merchant, have invented a new and useful Manufacture of a Vegetable Substitute for Animal Hair from a product not hitherto used for that purpose; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same; that is to 'say Thisinvention consists in the manufacture of a species "of vegetable hair from the. fibrous material which grows through and proceeds from the bark situated near the foot of the palm known as the Levz'stom'a Ohinensz's, Rorch, or Latania Ubz'nensis, Tacg. To this end, the fibrous material and adherent bark, as imported in the rough state, being first disintegrated by an opening-machine, are boiled in an alkaline lye, which may be compose-dot, say, from five to ten pounds weight of soda or potash, dissolved in one hundred gallonsbf water. This operation, which mayoccupy fromone-half totwo hours, according to the strength of the lye, is continued untilthe gummy, resinous, and ligneous matters adhering to the fibres are completely removed. The material thus cleansed is exposed to the action of a suitable mordant preparatory to its removal to the dyeing-vat charged with the required color, to ,which may be added a certain proportion of soapy matter, say from one to four pounds of oil-soap for every hundred pounds weight of fibre. The dyeing-process being completed, the mass is dried in the open air, or artificially, and istherentter submitted to the action of ordinary opening and combingmachinery, by which the filaments are glazed and divi'led to the required degree of fineness. The fibrous material thus obtained may be applied to the different purposes for which horse-hair, bristles, and other kinds of hairhave hitherto been employed as articles of commerce. When intended as a substitute for bristles, (as, for instance, in the manufacture of brushes,) the coarser fibres are selected and left straight, but, when intended for stufiing and similar purposes,.in lieu of horse-hair, they are curled in the same manner asthe latter, after which they are steeped in water till softened, and finally baked at a high temperature, (say about 140 Fahrenheit.) The finer fibres maybe mixed, when so desired, with other animal or vegetoblefilirous or textile matters,

the proportions of such mixtures being varied according to circumstances.

Having now described and ascertained the said invention, and the processes by which it may be carried into effect, I declare that I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent;

The manufacture, substantially as above sot forth, of a species ofavegetable hair from the fibrous material which grows through and proceeds from the bark situated near the foot of the palm known as the Levistonz'a U/ein'ensis, 15016., or Latam'd Ghz'ncnsz's, Tacq.

WERNER STAUFEN. Wi tn esses M. l MENNONB, Patent-Solicitor, Paris. '1. Bnrnxcox, Clerk to above. 

